Grouping mechanism for voting-machines.



G. .G. ABBOTT. GBOUPING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES. APPLIOATIQN FILED JULYB, 190s.

914,008, 7 Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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0. 0. ABBOTT. GROUPING MECHANISM FOR VOTING. MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908.

914,008. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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Patented Mar..2, 1909.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 8, 1908.

0. G. ABBOTT. GROUPING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 190a.

Patented Mar. 2,.1909.

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CHARLES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIUMPH VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GROUPING MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

Application filed July 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittslield, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Grouping Mechanism for VotingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that portion of the mechanism of a voting machine which has to do with group voting, so called.

The invention is shown as applied to a horizontal Triumph voting machine in which the names of party candidates are placed in horizontal lines and the names of all candidates for the same office are placed in vertical columns. It is of course equally applicable to machines in which the names of candidates are placed alphabetically, as under the Massachusetts law. I shall refer to the horizontal lines of names of candidates as party lines and the vertical columns of names of candidates as office columns, the idea being to make the machine as low as possible and to extend it horizontally to provide for any number of candidates. For example, what would be termed an 8-60 machine would provide for eight parties and sixty ofiices to e nominated for by each party.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide mechanism which will adapt a votmg machine for group voting, and will permit votes to be cast in a group in accordance with the will of the voter, all for the nominees of one party, or for one nominee of several parties, or for any number of nominees of any party up to the total number of oflices in the group, and which will furthermore render it impossible for a voter to cast but one vote for any candidate or more votes than there are oflices in the group.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism which in addition to the requirements of group voting will provide for a condition in which all the party lines of the machine are occupied by parties having candidates in nomination and additional candidates have been placed in nomination by the process of petition.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, im rovements and combinations which will be iereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 442,538.

Figure 1 is an elevation as seen from the rear of so much of a voting machine as is necessary to illustrate the construction and operation of my novel grouping mechanism; the arrangement shown being that of a group of ten or more candidates all of which have been voted for in two office columns; Fig. 2 a detail plan view partly in horizontal section; Fig. 3 a vertical section on an enlarged scale showin an interlocking member, a carrier, the lin is, a separator and a locked spacing block in elevation; Fig. 4 a similar section on a plane adjacent to the plane of Fig. 3, certain of the parts being omitted; Fig. 5 an elevation on an enlarged scale simi lar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in position for ordinary voting, and showing at the right an arrangement for petition voting, so called; Fig. 6 an elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the separators and the links and carrier therefor detached; Fig. 7 an inverted plan view corresponding with Fig. 6; Fig. 8 an elevation as seen from the left in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 an elevation on the same scale of one of the spacing blocks detached; Fig. 10 an elevation as seen from the right in Fig. 9, the spacing block being in section; Fig. 11 a section on the line 1111 in Fig. 9 looking down Fig. 12 an elevation of one of the locking slides detached; Fig. 13 an elevation of one of the locking latches detached; Fig.14 a detail view illustrating the operation of a grouping key; Fig. 15 an edge view of a grouping-kc detached; and Fig. 16 is a detail view il ustrating the operation of the spacing key when candidates have been p aced in nomination by petition in contiguous oflice columns.

20 denotes the base of a voting machine, 21 the grouping plate which is riveted to the base and'to brace plates 22 and 23 a housing which is secured to brace plates 22 and to the base by means of spacing plates 24. Any number of brace plates may be used depending of course upon the length of the machine.

25 denotes the lower horizontal which forms a portion of the frame of the machine and is riveted to the brace plates.

26 denotes interlocking members as a whole. These interlocking members correspond in number with the office columns of voting members, and each comprises side plates 27 and cam plates 28 movable obliquely relatively to the side plates. The cam plates in each interlocking member correspond in number with the voting members in the column.

5 29 denotes voting members which are journaled in the frame of the machine and are shown as comprising a shaft specifically indicated by 30, a voting lever indicated by 31, and a depressing arm indicated by 32.

It will of course be understood that so far as the present invention is concerned any type of voting members may be used, for example, push buttons. "When a voting memher is operated it engages the corresponding cam plate of the interlocking member and displaces it laterally, the effect of which is to contract the interlocking member longitudinally, taking up the slack therein and making it rigid.

The essential feature of the present invention is a series of swinging angular separators corresponding in number with the office columns of voting members and intermediate the separators swinging spacing blocks and means for locking the spacing blocks individually.

33 denotes the separators which are provided with operative faces 34 lying at an angle to each other. The separators are made inter-engaging by providing one operative face of each separator, in the present instance, the left face, with a slot 35 which receives a central projection 36 on the operative face of the contiguous separator or sep- 35 arators, depending upon the height to which operated separators are raised, as will be more fully explained. The separators may be formed in any suitable manner as in a single piece, although I preferably form them 40 from three corresponding plates, two of which face in one direction and one, the center plate, in the opposite direction, as will be readily understood from Fig. 7. If preferred, the center plates may be made from slightly thicker metal in order to provide additional strength. Spacing plates 37 are interposed between the plates of the separators in order to widen the slots slightly so that they will receive the projections freely. The

separators are suspended so as to swing freely by means of arallel links 38, four links being provider for each separator. For the sake of compactness the lower ends of the links are pivoted well down on the separators as at 39. The upper ends of the links are pivoted to the opposite sides of U- shaped carriers 40 as at 41. Outer bearing plates 50 may or may not be used (see Figs. 3 and 8). The upper end of each carrier is connected to an interlocking member in any suitable manner as by means of a hook 42 which engages a cross pin 43 extending between the lower ends of the side plates 27 of the corresponding interlocking member.

The carriers have free vertical movement between base 20 and housing 23 and are retained against lateral movement by guide plates 44 which are rigidly secured to the base and housing, respectively, by lugs 45 on spacing plates 24 which pass through the guide plates and through the housing and base, respectively, and are headed down, as clearly shown in Fig. 4; the spacing plates in fact carry the housing and keep it perfectly rigid. 46 denotes the spacing blocks which are suspended so as to swing freely intermediate the swinging separators. Each spacing block is carried by an arm 47, shown as made from two strips of metal, indicated by 51, and secured together by spacing rivets as at 52. At the upper end of each arm 47 is a yoke 48, which is pivoted on a cross-pin 49 extending through the base, housing 23 and the guideplates 44 and headed down on the outer side. The distance from the centers of the pivots on which arms 47 swing to the centers of the spacing blocks is approximately the same as the length of the links from center to center of the pivots of the links. This causes the separators and the spacing blocks to swing in arcs of approximately the same radius. As the links 38 of each set (four in each set) cannot swing out of parallelism, it follows that the center lines of the separators remain vertical under all the conditions of use, and that the relative positions of the separators and spacing blocks are maintained in the swinging'movements, as will be more fully explained. In order to meet any possible conditions that may arise in assembling the machine or in use, I provide an adjustment of each spacing block on the arm by which it is carried. A simple form of adjustment which I have found to meet the requirements of use is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive. The spacing block is provided on its underside with a transverse slot 53, the purpose of which will presently be explained, on opposite sides with vertical slots 54 and with a central cross slot 55. The lower ends of strips 51 of the arms lie in slots 54 and a cross-pin 56 passes through central slot 55. The lower ends of the strips are threaded for engagement by a nut 57. The action of the nut is to press the strips against the bases of slots 54 with suflicient pressure to retain the block against dropping down. Moreover, should the block drop down, no harm would be done, as the action of the separators in use is to force the blocks upward on the arm against the nuts. The nuts are provided in their upper ends with slots 58, which are engaged by locking slides 59 to retain them against rotation. The shape of these locking slides will be readily understood from Fig. 12, which see in connection with Fig. 11. The locking slides move freely on the arms and are provided with side flanges 60, which engage one of the arms and retain them in ment with the top of the block, and then the lock the keys against complete withdrawal from the machine.

osition. To adjust a spacing block the ocking slide is raised, the nut turned up or down as may be required and left in engagelocking slide is dropped to place and the engaging end thereof, indicated by 61, is placed in engagement with alined slots in the top of the nut.

In ordinary voting the separators and spacing blocks are locked against lateral movement by means of grouping keys 62, which pass through slots 74 in grouping plate 21, through slots 63 in a guide flange 64 formed integral with the grouping plate, through the transverse slots 53 in the spacing blocks and the inner ends of which engage sockets 65 in a plate 66 attached to the inner side of the base. The grouping keys are provided with lugs 67 which pass freely through clearance slots 75 in guide flange 64 and engage the inner side of the grouping plate to These keys are also provided on opposite sides with inner locking notches 68 and with outer locking notches 69. These notches are adapted to be engaged by locking latches 70 (see Figs. 13 and 14 in connection with Fig. 1). The latches are secured to the outer face of the grouping plate by means of rivets 71 which pass through slots 7 2 in the locking latches, the slots permitting the latches to be raised freely, but the top walls of the slots resting in engagement with the rivets when the latches are in the normal or locking position, that is, locking the grouping keys either in orout. The lockinglatches are provided with ears 82 which rest upon the upper sides of the grou )ing keys, with walls 83 adapted to engage the locking notches in the grouping keys and with walls ea adapted to engage the locking notches in the spacing key, presently to be described. This construction enables me to release the grouping keys and the spacing key with but slight raising of the locking latches.

73 denotes a spacing key which is adapted to pass through slots 7 6 in grouping plate 2]., and through slots 77 in guide flange 64, and the inner end of which engages a socket '78 in plate 66 attached to the inner side of the base. This key is provided on opposite sides with inner locking notches 7 9 corresponding with inner locking notches 68 in the grouping keys, and with a single outer locking notch 80 corresponding with either of the outer locking notches 69 in the grouping keys, the spacing key being reversible to adapt it to difierent conditions, as will be more fully explained. The locking notches in the spacing key are adapted. to be engaged by locking latches 70, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

81 denotes a clearance slot in the spacing key which is adapted to receive the edge of one of the separators under certain conditions, as will be more fully explained. l

The operation is as follows: In ordinary or regular voting, the spacing blocks are all looked against lateral movement by means of grouping keys, as clearly shown at the left in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 4, the keys being locked in the locking position by means of locking latches 70 which engage the outer locking notches. The number of grouping keys corresponds with the number of spacing blocks and there are half as many locking latches, as each latch engages two keys. The separators hang suspended from the carriers by means of the links, and the carriers are con nected to the lower ends of the interlocking members which hang straight down. It should. be understood that each interlocking member has the capacity for as many slacks as there are cam plates in said member, and that in ordinary voting each interlocking member must be so'set or adjusted as to permit the movement of one cam plate only. This adjustment of the interlocking member as set for ordinary voting, I term its normal slack. In other words, this normal slack which is provided for in each interlocking member is just sufiioient to permit the operation of one voting member. The operation of a voting member, as clearly shown at the left in Fig. 5, shortens the interlocking member and raises the corresponding separator by displacing a cam plate laterally. The upper ends of the separators lie interme diate the spacing blocks with a space normally between the separator and each spac ing block. The aggregate of the two spaces is just sufficient to cause the separator to be lifted into close engagement with both the spacing blocks by the operation of a voting member. In other words, just the amount of vertical movement of the separator is provided. for that is required to permit the operation of the voting member, the effect of the operation of which is to take up the normal slack in the interlocking member, short ening said member, drawing the separator into engagement with the spacing blocks and making the structure rigid.

The rule for setting up the machine for group voting is simply to withdraw all of the grouping keys from the spacing blocks intermediate the spacing blocks corresponding with the first and last office columns in a group; for example, in a group of two, a single grouping key would be withdrawn, in a group of six the five intermediate grouping keys would be withdrawn, and in a group of ten. or more oflice columns, as in Fig. l, the same rule would be carried out. After withdrawal the grouping keys are locked in the withdrawn position by locking latches 70 which are placed in engagement with the in ner locking notches 68 or at the ends of the group with the inner locking notches of the withdrawn keys and the outer locking notches of the contiguous keys not drawn out. This makes it impossible for a key to become displaced and interfere with the operation of the mechanism. As has already been stated, when the grouping keys of a group have been withdrawn, all of the separators and spacing blocks intern'rediate the first and last spacing blocks of the group are free to swing laterally. Suppose there are ten candidates to be voted for in a group but there are only eight party lines in the machine, it is necessary that provision be made for casting eight of the ten votes all in one oflice column, or two, three or more votes in one office column and two, three or more votes in other oflice columns, or if a voter so elect he may cast one ballot in each of the ten oflice columns in the group; in other words, it is necessary to effect such an arrangement of the parts as will permit free transference of the slacks between the ten interlocking members included in the group. Vihile in ordinary voting the conditions require that one slack only be provided for in each interlocking member, t. 6., the normal slack, and that the operation of a single voting member takes up this normal slack, the conditions of group voting require that each interlocking member in the group have the capacity for the taking up in said member of a number of slacks equal to the number of offices to be voted for in the group, provided the number does not exceed the number of party lines, i. 6., that every interlocking member in the group be so set or adjusted as to permit the operation in the corresponding oflice column of as many voting members as there are candidates to be voted for in the group up to the number of party lines, and furthermore, that the adjustment of the parts be such that the aggregate number of votes cast cannot eX- ceed the number of candidates to be voted for in the group. This result I accomplish perfectly by means of my novel swinging separators and swinging spacing blocks. Starting with the principle that each interlocking member normally hangs loosely enough to just permit the taking up of one slack therein by the operation of a voting member, the unlocking of the spacing blocks intermediate the first and last spacing blocks in a group, t. 6., the unlocking of one less spacing block than there are candidates to be voted for in the group, permits free transference of the entire number of slacks required for voting the group between the interlocking members in the group. This will be readily understood from Fig. 1, in which spacing blocks are unlocked for a group of ten or more candidates and the entire number of candidates in the group have been voted for in the third and fourth party columns from the left, in which said third and fourth interlocking members, carriers and spacing blocks are shown as raised and the other separators and spacing blocks in the group displaced laterally by the raising of the separators corresponding with the ofiicc columns in which the votes are cast.

' In addition to group voting 1 also provide by means of my novel swinging separators and swinging spacing blocks for a condition in which all the party lines of the machine are occupied by parties having candidates in nomination and additional candidates have been placed in nomination by the process of petition. If the party lines were not all in use the names of candidates put in nomination by petition would be placed in one of the horizontal lines. Suppose now that the party lines are all in use and that a candidate has been placed in nomination for a certain office by the process of petition. This condition may be provided for by means of the separators, spacing blocks and spacing key 7 3. Turning now to Fig. 5, the third spacing block from the right may be the last block toward the right of a group or it may be locked as in ordinary voting, it being wholly immaterial whether or not the office for which a candidate has been placed in nomination by petition comes next .to a group. The name of the petition nominee may be placed contiguous to the name of any regular candidate for the same oflice. This brings about a condition in which there are two candidates for the same office in the same party line and only one of which candidates can be voted for. In order to accomplish the desired result, I assign an oflice column (of which there are supposed to be enough to meet any possible emergency) to the petition nominee and utilize the separators and inter locking members of two party columns, using in connection therewith the spacing key.

a and I) (see Fig. 5) indicate specifically two separators utilized in providing for a petition candidate. The spacing block intermediate separators a and b is unlocked by the withdrawal of the grouping key 62, but the spacing blocks on opposite sides of these two separators remain locked, as clearly shown. The spacing rey 7 3 may be placed either to the right or to the left of separators a and I). I have shown it as inserted through the slot 76 in the grouping plate and the slot 77 in the guide flange to the right of separator I) (see Big. 2 at the left in connection with Fig. 5 at the right and Figs. 3 and 4), the inner end of the key engaging the socket 78 in plate 66 on the inner side of the base. The key is then locked in the inserted position by placing the corresponding locking latch in engagement with one of the outer locking notches 80, and an inner or outer locking notch in the contiguous grouping key. When the spacing key is inserted in this manner one of the side walls 85 of the key engages separator b and swings said separator toward the left and into engagement with the unlocked spacing block. In other words, the entire space betaken up by placing separator b in engagement with the unlocked spacing block and looking it against backward movement by means of the spacing key. We therefore now have the condition of two candidates for the same office in two contiguous office columns, with two separators and two interlocking members, but have made it impossible for a voter to vote for but one of these candidates. In other words, we are sup osing that the party lines are all in use wien the petition nomination is made. The emergency is met by placing the name of the petition nominee in a special office column contiguous to the name of any regular nominee for the same office and setting up the portion of the machine corresponding with said two office columns in the manner just described. Suppose that the voter votes for the candidate whose name is placed in the office column corres ending with separator a, the effect would e the same as voting regularly, as at the left in Fig. 5. That is to say, the spacing key and separator I) acting together will lock the unlocked spacing block against movement toward the right just as a grouping key would, but will, however, leave said unlocked spacing block free to move toward the left. The operation of voting lifts separator ainto engagement with the spacing blocks on opposite sides thereof, as in ordinary voting, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Suppose now that the voter votes for the candidate whose name is placed in the office column corresponding with separator b; the effect would be the same as before, but it would be accomplished in a different manner. The voting operation would raise separator b in the usual manner. The said separator would, however, be locked by the spacing key against movement toward the right. The entire lateral movement of saidseparator would therefore have to be toward the left. The effect of the movement would be this: Se arator I) would engage the unlocked spacing clock and swing it toward the left and the spacing block in turn would engage separator a and swing that also toward the left until the movement was stopped by the third s acing block from the right which is locked by a grouping key. The result is that through the cooperation of the spacing key, separators a and b, an unlocked spacing block intermediate said separators and a locked spacing block at the left of said separators, separator b will be locked against any upward movement in excess of the movement required to permit the operation of one voting member. Clearance slot 81 is provided in the spacing key in order to permit free operation of the contiguous separator (as shown in Figs. 2 and 5), toward the left Which must not be efiected by the arrangebe inserted on the left side or separators a and b instead of on the right as shown, the spacing key will be turned over so that clearance slot 81 will face toward the left instead of toward the right.

It will be understood, of course, that the novel mechanism 1 have described is equally applicable to machines which do or do not contain party levers and party'bars to which the individual voting members are connected. it will furthermore be understood that in machines in which party levers are used, means is provided for disconnecting the voting members of the office column assigned to the petition nominee from the party bars, which are not shown as they form no portion of the present invention. The provision therefore for voting for petition nominees in a party lever machine does not affect straight party voting. The operation of the party lever votes a straight party ticket as usual. If the voter desires to vote for the petition nominee, he must scratch the ticket that is, he must unvote the vote cast by operation of the party lever for the office for which a candidate has been nominated by petition and must vote for the petition nominee by operation of the proper individual lever, which can only be operated after the corresponding regular vote has been unvoted.

In Fig. 16, I have illustrated another use of the spacing key. Suppose now that the party lines of the machine are all in use as before and that nominations by petition have been made for two offices contiguously placed in the office columns, an additional office column would be assigned to each petition nominee as before. The only change required would be in the placing of the spacing key. The custodian would change ends with the key and would insert it in the slots 76 and 77 in the grouping plate and guide flange, in the position shown in Fig. 16, intermediate the last office column pertaining to one office and the first office column per taining to the other office for which nominations had been made by petition. It would be immaterial which way clearance slot 81 faced as both side walls 85 of the key would engage separators on, opposite sides thereof and would swing said separators laterally, the one toward the right and the other toward the left, the efi'ect of which would be simply a duplication of the result shown in Fig. 5 in which a separator is swung toward the left only. The operation would be precisely the same as before, the only difference in the setting up of themachine being that a single spacing key would act on two separators, thus rendering the use of an additional spacing key unnecessary. The spacing key would be locked against displacement by a locking latch as before,

whlch would engage the lock ng notch 79 which I have defined as the inner locking notch, or clearance slot 81 as might happen, and the other edge of which would engage a locking notch in a contiguous grouping key.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a voting machine, the combinatio with voting members and interlocking members, of swinging separators, parallel links connecting each of said separators to an interlocking member, and swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

2. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members, of swinging separators, parallel links connecting each of said separators to an interlocking member, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators, and means for locking the spacing blocks independently.

3. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members, of swinging separators,'parallel links connecting each of said separators to an interlocking member, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and grouping keys for locking the spacing blocks.

4. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators and swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators, of means for locking the spacing blocks individually in their normal position.

5. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, angular separators and parallel links pivoted to the carriers and to the separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

6. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, angular separators 'and four parallel swinging links connecting each separator to a carrier, said links permitting the separators to swing in an arc and retaining the center lines of the separators vertical, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, angular separators and parallel swinging links connecting the separators to the carriers, of spacing blocks intermediate the separators and swinging arms connected to the spacing blocks and pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine. v i

8, In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, angular separators and parallel swinging links connecting the separators to the carriers, of spacing blocks intermediate the separators and swing ing arms connected to the spacing blocks and pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine, said arms and links being of approximately equal length between pivotal points, causing the separators and spacing blocks to swing in arcs of approximately equal radius.

9. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, angular separators and parallel swinging links connecting the separators to the carriers, of spacing blocks intermediate the separators and swinging arms connected to the spacing blocks, said arms having yokes at their upper ends by which they are pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine.

10. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable carriers, separators having operative faces at an angle to each other and parallel swinging links connecting the separators to the carriers, of spacing blocks intermediate the separators and swinging arms adjustably connected to the separators and pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine.

. 11. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging se arators and spacing blocks intermediate tie separators, of swinging arms threaded at their lower ends and pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine and adjustably connected to the spacing blocks, nuts engaging the arms and bearing on the spacing blocks and means for locking the nuts against rotation.

12. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators and spacing blocks intermediate the separators, of swinging arms threaded at their lower ends and pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine and adj ustably connected to the spacing blocks, slotted nuts engaging the arms and bearing on the spacing blocks and locking slides on the arms which engage slots in the nuts to lock the latter in place.

13. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators and spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with vertical slots on opposite sides and cross slots, of swinging arms comprising strips, the upper ends of which are pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine and the lower ends of which engage the vertical slots in the spacing blocks, crosspins engaging cross slots and means for looking the spacing blocks against vertical movement on the arms.

1 1. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators and spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with vertical slots on opposite sides and cross slots, of swinging arms comprising strips, theupper ends of which are pivoted to a fixed portion of the machine and the lower ends of which are threaded and engage the vertical slots in the spacing blocks, cross-pins engaging the cross slots, slotted nuts engaging the arms and bearing on the spacing blocks and locking slides on the arms which engage slots in the nuts.

15. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable inter-engaging swinging separators having operative faces lying at [)lOCKS engaging tire operative races or cunr Cbllu. rovide 0 3 notches and locking latches adapted to entiguous separators.

16. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators having operative faces lying at an angle to each other, one operative face of each separator being provided with a slot and the other operative face with a projection engaging the s ot of the contiguous separator, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

17. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators having operative faces lying at an angle to each other, said separators comprising three corresponding plates, the outer plates facing in one direction and the center plate in the opposite direction and said plates being shaped to form a slot in one operative face and a projection on the other which is adapted to engage the slot in the contiguous separator, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

18. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators having operative faces lying at an angle to each other, said separators comprising three corresponding plates, the outer plates facing in one direction and the center plate in the opposite direction and said plates being siaped to form a slot in one operative face and a projection on the other which is adapted to engage the slot in the contiguous separator, of spacing plates intermediate said plates and swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

19. In a voting machine, the combination *ith angular separators and swinging parallel links connecting said separators with vertically movable portions of the machine, of

spacing blocks intermediate the separators and swinging arms connecting the spacing blocks to a fixed portion of the machine.

'20. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots and grouping keys engaging said slots to lock the spacing blocks and separators.

21. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots, grouping keys engaging said slots and means for locking the grouping keys.

22. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots grouping keys adapted to engage said slots and means for locking the grouping keys.

23. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots,

n no. AALLUI wan v u. so. v

gage the locking notches in contiguous grouping keys to lock the latter in or out of engagement with the transverse slots in the spacing blocks.

24. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots, grouping keys adapted to engage said slots, a grouping plate having a guide flange, said plate and flange having slots in which the grouping keys slide and a plate having sockets to receive the inner ends of the grouping keys in the locking position.

25. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots, grouping keys adapted to engage said slots and provided with lugs, a grouping plate having clearance slots to receive the lugs and a guide flange, said plate and flange having slots in which the grouping keys slide and said lugs engaging the grouping plate to limit the outward movement of the grouping keys.

26. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, of swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and provided with transverse slots, grouping keys adapted to engage said slots and inner and outer locking notches, a grouping plate having a guide flange, said plate and flange having slots in which the grouping keys slide and vertically movable locking latches secured to the grouping plate and adapted to engage the locking notches in the grouping slides.

27. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the spacing blocks, of means for looking a separator subisgltantially as described, for the purpose speci- 28. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the spacing blocks, of a spacing key adapted to lock a separator out of its normal position, for the purpose set forth, and having a clearance slot which permits free operation of the contiguous separator.

29. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the spacing blocks, of a spacing key adapted to look a separator out of its normal position, for the purpose set forth, and means for locking the spacing key.

30. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the spacing blocks, of a spacing key having two side walls {at one end and a side wall and a clearance slot at the other end, insertion of said key with the single side wall inward acting to lock the separator on one side out of its normal position and the clearance slot permitting free operation of the contiguous separator and insertion of said key with the two side walls inward acting to lock the separators between which it is inserted out of operative position.

31. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and grouping keys adapted to lock the spacing blocks, of spacing keys adapted to lock the separators out oi their normal position and locking latches engaging the grouping keys and spacing keys to lock them in POSltlOIl.

32. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators, grouping keys adapted to lock the spacing blocks in their normal position and a spacing key adapted to lock the separators out of their normal position, of a grouping plate having a guide flange, said plate and said flange having slots in which the grouping and spacing keys slide and vertically movable locking latches secured to the grouping plate and adapted to lock the grouping and spacing keys.

33. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators, grouping keys adapted to lock the spacing blocks in their normal position and a spacing key adapted to lock the separators out or their normal position, said grouping and spacing keys having locking notches, of a grouping plate having a guide flange, said plate and said flange having slots in which the grouping and spacing keys slide, and vertically movable locking latches secured to the grouping plate and having ears adapted to rest upon grouping keys, walls adapted to engage the locking notches of grouping keys and other walls adapted to engage a locking notch in a spacing key.

34. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators, grouping keys adapted to lock the spacing blocks in their normal position and a spacing key adapted to lock the separators out of their normal position, said grouping and spacing keys having locking notches, of a grouping plate having slots in which the grouping and spacing keys slide, vertically movable locking latches having central slots and walls engaging the notches in the slides and rivets passing through the slots and securing the latches to the grouping plate, said rivets limiting the downward movement of the latches.

35. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members having cross-pins at their lower ends, of angular separators, carriers having hooks engaging the cross pins, swinging links connecting the separators with the carriers and swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators.

'36. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the spac ing blocks, of a spacing key having a side wall adaptedto engage a separator, substan tially as described, for the purpose specified.

37. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and .means for locking the spacing bloc rs, of a spacing key having a side wall adapted to engage a separator and a clearance slot opposite thereto, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

38. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members having cross-pins at their lower ends, of angular separators, carriers having hooks engaging the cross-pins, swinging links connecting the separators with the carriers, spacing blocks intermediate the separators and arms connected to the spacing blocks and pivoted to a fixed portion 01" the machine.

39. In a voting machine, the combination with vertically movable swinging separators, swinging spacing blocks intermediate the separators and means for locking the separators out of operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

EDITH DIEHL RoBERTsoN, JEssIE L. DELLERT. 

